Today we FINALY took some time out to see the capitol of the worlds greatest contry. Here you see Marilou, Jessica and Jacob in front of the Lincoln Memorial. 


Here is Jessica, Marilou and Jacob in front of Abraham Lincoln's Statue. They are STILL doing work on it. Its been under construction since I came out in 2002 with Marilou for my first interview with the state department. 


Here Marilou, Jessica and Jacob stand in front of the gettysburg address. 'Them some big words.' In many, MANY ways. 


Jessica, Me and Jacob stand with our backs to the Washington Monument, Looking in at Abraham Lincoln's statue. 


Jacob, Marilou and Jessica take a break on the steps of the Lincoln memorial. 


The lincoln memorial. 


Lincoln looking out. 


Jessica pondering life while looking at the reflecting pool. 


Jacob lookin up the many steps to the Lincoln memorial. 


Jacob, Marilou and Jessica posing at one end of the reflecting pool. 


The kids sure like playing with the local animals. 


GRRRRRRRRRRRR 


In between the Lincoln and Washington monuments there is a new one. The World War 2 memorial. This is simply amazing. 


Marilou, Jacob and Jessica at the entrance to the World War || memorial. 


Here is marilou in front of the Philippines pilar. 


Jessica and Jacob in front of a quote of FDR. 


Jessica and Jacob in the middel of the monument. 


At the back of the monument is a wall of stars. A star is a representation of a life given in the war. "Here we mark the price of freedom." 


What price will we have to pay for our freedom? Have we paid it? Are we still paying for it? Or is payment due? 


I pray that when we are called to stand we will do so with Honor and Integrity. 


Jessica, Jacob and Marilou standing on the other side of the Philippines pillar. 


Here is the marker for part of the war that took place in the Philippines.  


Here we see the pillars for New Mexico, Utah and Idaho. 


Jessica in front of the Virginia pillar. 


The Washington monument. Man that is one tall pillar. We wanted to go up but the tickets for the day had sold out. 


Jessica and Jacob at the Vietnam memorial. 

This is me getting my Flag. The lady who gave me my flag is Susan H. Swart.


This is the 86th Class of the State Department's Foreign Service Specialist. This took place October 7, 2005. Henriette H. Fore administered the Oath of Office to us.

Here is Lola and Uncle Bill's new house. Nice place. There was a lot of fog in the morning. It made for a pleasent day though.


Here is a the house from a differnt angle. See the cute porches.


Here is Jacob sitting on the bench at the side of the house overlooking the rather breathtaking valley they live in.


Here is Jessica behind the house. You can see the little shed they have out back.


Here is a picture of the house from way at the far end of the property. You can see all the work that Lola has put into the landscaping.


Here I am with Jacob, Mildred (Lola) and Jessica. Just call me the Jolly Green Giant. That is the valley that Lola's home overlooks.


Here is Jacob, Marilou, Lola and Jessica at Lola's work. This place is amazing. It is a special club you pay 50,000 us dollors to join. Basic membership afords you use of the golf course and a myriad of other things to do. Milred works in the spa doing nails and other various beauty things. Look at the scene behind them. Is that a runway I see . . . on top of a mountain. Well let me just sign right up. . . .now where did I put my 50g's?


Jessica and Jacob are playing one of the kids play areas at MountainAir. Nice tree house!


Jessica is taking it easy in the hammock there at the kids treehouse. Like I said WHAT A CLUB!


Well that was Fun. Here are the kids in the back of Lola's SUV ready to go back and have some more fun at Lola's house. Where the rates are much more reasonable and the cooking rocks.


So once we got back we took a hike, Lola showed us the new development in her neighborhood. Along the way the developer has 'improved' the little creek that runs down the hill. See the cute waterwheel behind Jacob. Are they not all just amazingly cute people? I am truly blessed to have them a part of my life.


Here is the love of my life at the fish pond just below Lola's place. Quite the beautiful scene, on MANY levels.

Officially an official.

 
This is Myself, Marilou, Jessica and Jacob in the John Quincy Adams State Drawing Room.

Today I have been sworn in to the Foreign Service.

I, Jared Stokes Do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the Umited States, against all enemies foreign and domestic, That I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same, That I take this obligation freely and without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion, That I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter, So help me God.

Here is the main entrance to the Harry S. Truman building of the State department. This building is also known as Main State. 


Here we are in the same lobby with all the Flags of the contries that the U.S.A. has diplomatic relations with. We are actually standing below the flag of China. 


Here I am addressing my class in the Benjamin Franklin State Dining Room. Ok I was not REALLY addressing the class offically. I was just having fun in this VERY huge VERY elegant room.  


Here is Marilou and the kids in the Thomas Jefferson State Reception Room. 


This is the device that holds the Great Seal of the United States. They use this to emboss the seal onto offical papers. This machine is over 150 years old and is still the only machine used to do the imprinting. Amazing! 

Beijing, China

Well this is going to be our first post. I can hardly believe it.

Beijing, China.